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BRIEFS: Local woman earns state post

From Staff Reports

A Columbia resident with a knack for refurbishing historic homes has been appointed to a state post.

Gov. Bill Haslam recently appointed Kathie Fuston to the Tennessee Historical Commission. Tied to the state Department of Environment and Conservation, the agency focuses on historic preservation and administers federal programs such as the National Register of Historic Places.

Fuston has previously been recognized locally for her work in restoring her West 6th Street home that dates back to 1833 and also received the Columbia “Mayor’s Beautification Award” in 2011. She has participated in the renovation of more than 4,000 structures across Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., and her designs have been featured on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens.

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Clarksville teller arrested for embezzlement

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has arrested the head teller at a Capital Bank in Clarksville for false bookkeeping and theft totaling over $60,000.

The agency said that 30-year-old Kristy Hodges was arrested Saturday after she was indicted by a Montgomery County grand jury on Tuesday. She faces one count of theft and several counts of false bookkeeping.

The TBI said in a release that they began the embezzlement investigation in September at the request of District Attorney General John Carney.

Hodges is alleged to have taken over $60,000 from her employer between 2008 and 2012. She was released on a $2,500 bond.

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Seventeen

Memphis officers

arrested this year

MEMPHIS — A review of arrests of Memphis police officers shows that driving under the influence is the leading cause, but the number of arrests this year surpasses at least one other Tennessee police force.

The Commercial Appeal reports that 19 Memphis officers and two civilian employees have been arrested this year. The arrests, along with the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old by an off-duty officer, led Memphis Mayor A C Wharton to request an outside review of police department policies.

In comparison, Nashville’s police department has about 1,400 officers compared to Memphis’ 2,400 officers. So far this year, four Nashville police officers, two trainees and one civilian employee have been arrested so far this year, said Don Aaron, a spokesman for the Metro Nashville Police Department.

Memphis has recorded nearly five times as many officer arrests than Nashville.

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Vigil held

for children reported missing

UNIONVILLE — A candlelight vigil was held for two children reported missing by authorities since their home was destroyed in deadly fire in Bedford County two weeks ago.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has an Amber Alert out for 9-year old Chloie Leverette and 7-year old Gage Daniel after investigators could not find their remains inside their home near Unionville.

Two bodies tentatively identified as the children’s grandparents, 72-year-old Leon “Bubba” McClaran and his wife, 70-year-old Molli McClaran, were recovered.

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Forest service finalizes purchase of Rocky Fork

ERWIN — The U.S. Forest Service has completed its purchase of a large undeveloped tract of land in the Appalachians.

The tract, known as Rocky Fork, is nearly 10,000 acres and lies in Unicoi and Greene counties in East Tennessee. The Johnson City Press reported $5 million in funding from the USDA helped it finalized the purchase of 1,200 acres — the last section that was privately owned.

Preserving as much of Rocky Fork as possible became a priority of the U.S. Forest Service when it acquired the first parcel of it in 2008 as the land went up for sale.

In all, the Forest Service has spent $40 million to keep 7,667 acres open for public use. The Conservation Fund owns about 2,000 acres of the tract.

“This final Forest Service acquisition is huge, not only in the number of acres, but in potential economic impacts,” District Ranger Terry Bowerman said in a statement about the purchase. “It will also help conserve and protect many outstanding natural and scenic resources. This is truly a dream come true for many people.”

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